Denison Magazine
The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), a nonprofit organization established in 1952, is an internationally respected community of academics and industry professionals who advocate for applying mathematical knowledge to industry, science, and society.
Denison chapter co-president Sasha Gavrilova ’28 says, “Joining SIAM is a great opportunity to find out more about how vast the field of mathematics is and what type of career opportunities there are out there.”
In spring 2024, Denison was the first primarily undergraduate institution in Ohio to form a student chapter of SIAM.
SIAM student chapters bring together students and faculty at the interface of various scientific fields using quantitative methods. The organization is not just for math majors and faculty. Any discipline using computational or mathematical approaches, from biology and psychology to economics and health sciences, is welcome under the SIAM umbrella.
Denison’s SIAM student chapter aims to promote mathematical and scientific communication; connect faculty, students, and all enthusiasts in mathematics; advance the application of mathematics and computational science to engineering, industry, science, and society; and enhance overall liberal arts intellectual life at Denison University.
Members of the SIAM student chapter have presented applied math research at regional and international conferences and tabled at the annual Black, LatinX, Asian STEM Society (BLASS) Science Fair. During the next academic year, the SIAM student chapter wants to host applied math speakers (including student speakers), network with students and faculty within the Five Colleges of Ohio, and build community among students at Denison (over pizza, of course!).
“SIAM membership also comes with benefits such as more conference funding opportunities,” Gavrilova says. “I was fortunate enough to get to present my applied math research at the January Joint Mathematics Meetings held in Seattle, Washington. It was really cool to attend the SIAM fair there as well as explore the city.”
Want to be involved in Denison’s SIAM student chapter? Contact co-presidents, Sasha (gavril_s1@denison.edu) and Alex (vanlav_a1@denison.edu), or the chapter sponsors, Visiting Assistant Professor Sara Clifton (cliftons@denison.edu) and Assistant Professor Robert Viator (viatorr@denison.edu), to sign up for your free SIAM student membership!
June 27, 2025
